Xiaomi Mi Power Bank Pro

The affordable Xiaomi Mi Power Bank Pro is a stylish, pocketabe battery pack that can add more than a full day's worth of juice to your phone.

The affordable Xiaomi Mi Power Bank Pro is a stylish, pocketabe battery pack that can add more than a full day's worth of juice to your phone.

Jan. 31, 2018Ajay Kumar

Portable power banks are far less sexy than the phones and tablets they connect to, but the $29.99 Xiaomi Mi Power Bank Pro is genuinely attractive. The 10,000mAh backup battery is wrapped in a slim metal body that's both stylish and easily portable. In addition to providing lots of extra power in our tests, it supports fast charging and pass-through charging as well. That makes the Mi Power Bank Pro the best battery you can buy at this size and price, and our Editors' Choice.

Design and Features

The Mi Power Bank Pro features a cool, minimal design made of machined aluminum. It measures 5.1 by 2.9 by 0.5 inches (HWD), about the size of your average smartphone. The Anker PowerCore 10000 is smaller in length and width, but is nearly a full inch thick (3.9 by 2.5 by 0.9 inches), making it hard to fit in a pocket. And despite its higher-quality aluminum build, the Mi Power Bank Pro weighs the same 7 ounces as the polycarbonate PowerCore.

The top and bottom of the battery are coated in plastic. On the top edge, a Reset button lets you start and stop charging, though the battery detects most devices automatically. Four white LEDs to the right show charging status.

The USB-C port is for input only and supports fast charging, but doesn't do output like the Tronsmart Presto. The USB-A output supports Qualcomm QuickCharge 2.0, meaning it's capable of charging at 5V/2A, 9V/2A, and 12V/1.5A. When we tested it with the LG V30+, it successfully charged at 9V/2A. This is an older standard than the Quick Charge 3.0 on the PowerCore and Tronsmart Presto, which can vary voltage dynamically up to 20V for faster charging speeds.

Pass-through charging is supported, allowing the Pro to charge another device while also being charged, which comes in especially handy when you're traveling.

The Xiaomi Mi Power Bank Pro has just about everything you can ask for in a battery pack. Its slim and stylish design is complemented by a large capacity, excellent power efficiency, and fast charging. The Anker PowerCore 10000, our previous Editors' Choice, doesn't last as long or support pass-through charging, while the Tronsmart Presto isn't nearly as portable. The Xiaomi Mi Power Bank Pro offers excellent value for the price and earns our Editors' Choice award.

More Inside PCMag.com

About the Author

Ajay Kumar is PCMag's Analyst obsessed with all things mobile. Ajay reviews phones, tablets, accessories, and just about any other gadget that can be carried around with you. In his spare time he games on the rig he built himself, collects Nintendo amiibos, and tries his hand at publishing a novel. Follow Ajay on Twitter @Ajay_H_Kumar. See Full Bio